In March 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) conducted an official country mission in Venezuela to identify strategic areas of technical cooperation in human resources for health (HRH). The mission aimed to focus on policy development, training, distribution, attraction, and retention of HRH, with a specific emphasis on primary health care.
During the mission, PAHO identified several areas where they could support Venezuela. They identified the need to update HRH policies and strengthen information systems for HRH planning and forecasting. They also recognized the importance of developing competencies through interprofessional education and utilizing virtual tools such as the Campus for Public Health.
As a result of these findings, cooperation priorities were established. These priorities included updating the HRH National Plan, enhancing the national HRH observatory, analyzing the health workforce, and organizing interprofessional teams.
BenjamÃn Puertas, Unit Chief of Human Resources for Health at PAHO, held meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Popular Power for Health and the Direction of Integration and International Affairs in Venezuela. He also visited training centers and primary health care services to engage in discussions with directors and students. This technical cooperation mission in Venezuela is part of PAHO’s broader efforts to strengthen human resources for health in the Americas region.
The mission was successful in identifying areas where PAHO could provide support to Venezuela in developing its HRH sector. It also helped establish a cooperation agenda on priority issues in HRH that will benefit both parties involved.
Overall, this mission highlights PAHO’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems across Latin America and promoting better health outcomes for all citizens. With continued collaboration between PAHO and national authorities like Venezuela’s Ministry of Popular Power for Health, we can expect even more progress towards achieving this goal.
